The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

Such plasters not only give comfort to the patient (by removing the pain and leading to the absorption of the swelling), but heaves up the bed of the sore or the ulcer and contributes to its speedy purification and healing up (granulation). 25—28.

In the case of a swelling brought on by the deranged Vayu, the affected part should be washed or sprinkled (Parisheka) with a warm lotion of clarified butter, oil, Dhanyamla and essence of meat or with a decoction of the drugs that tend to pacify the enraged Vayu and to relieve the pain. A swelling due to the action of the deranged Pitta or blood or to the effect of a blow or poison should be washed or sprinkle 1 with a lotion of milk, clarified butter, honey and sugar dissolved in water, the expressed juice of sugar-cane and a cold decoction of the drugs of the Madhura group (Kakol>'*adi-gana) and the Kshira-Vriksfias. A Kaphaja swelling on the body should be washed or sprinkled with a luke-warm lotion of oil, cow's urine, alkaline solution, wine >^Sura), Sukta and with a decoction of drugs that destroy the deranged Kapha. 29—31.

IVIetrical Text : —As a fire is put out by jets of water, so the fire of the deranged morbific principles (Doshagnl) of the body are spe idily subdued and put down by the application of (medicinal lotions) washes. 32.

p. 247

An anointing (Abhyanga), duly prescribed and used, with a full regard to the nature of the aggravated Doshas, leads to their pacification (restoration to the normal condition) and to softness (subsidence) of the swelling. 33.

p. 247

An anointing (Abhyanga), duly prescribed and used, with a full regard to the nature of the aggravated Doshas, leads to their pacification (restoration to the normal condition) and to softness (subsidence) of the swelling. 33.

lYICtrical Texts: — An application of an anointment (Abhyanga) should precede the measures of fomentation, resolution, &c , while it should follow all evacuating measures, &c. A painful, extended and indurated swelling, as well as an ulcer of a similar nature, should be fomented, while an act of Vimlapana (resolution by gentle massage) should be done in respect of a fixed or unfluctuating swelling attended with little or no pain whatsoever. A wise physician should first annoint and foment the part and then gently and slowly press it with a bamboo-reed or with the back of his thumb or palm. A non-suppurated swelling or one that is partially suppurated should be treated with poultice (Upandha\ which would lead to its resolution or suppuration, as the case might be. A swelling, not resolved or not subsiding even after the adoption of the measures beginning with Apatarpana and ending in Virechana (in the given . list), should be caused to suppurate with the drugs enumerated in the ^chapter of Mis'raka, such as curd, whey, wine (Sura), Sukta and Dhany^mla (a kind of fermented paddy gruel). They should be formed into a paste and the paste should be cooked into an efficacious poultice-like composition:(Utk^rikd), and mixed with salt and oil or clarified butter, it should be applied over the affected part (swelling) and bandaged with the leaves of an Eranda plant. The patient should be allowed to take a wholesome (?^., which does not. produce Kapha) diet as soon as suppuration would set in (in the swelling), 34-39.

p. 248

The patient should be allowed to take a wholesome (?^., which does not. produce Kapha) diet as soon as suppuration would set in (in the swelling), 34-39.

p. 248

Blood-letting' :— Blood-letting should be resorted to in a case of newly formed swelling for its resolution and for alleviating the pain. Bleeding (Visratvana) is recommended in the case of an ulcer which is indurated, marked by a considerable swelling and inflammation and is reddish black or red-coloured, extremely painful, gagged in its shape and considerably extended at its base (congested), specially in the case of a poisonous ulcer, for the subsidence of the pain and for warding off a process of suppuratiou therein, either by applying leeches or by opening (a vein in the locality) by means of an instrument. An ulcer-patient of a dry or parched temperament affected with distressing supervenients or ulcer-cachixia or who is weak should be made to drink an emulsive potion cooked with (a decoction of) appropriate drugs. A patient afflicted with an ulcer with an elevated margin and attended with swelling and specially marked by the presence of the deranged Kapha and by a flow of blackish red blood should be treated with emetics. Ulcer-experts recommend purgatives to a patient afflicted with an old or long-standing ulcer, attended with a deranged condition of the Vayu and Pitta. An excision should be made into an ulcer which refuses to suppurate and which is of a hard and indurated character attended with sloughing of the local nerves and ligaments (Snayu). An opening^ or excision (Bhedana) should be made into an ulcer (Vrana) in the inside of which pus has accumalated and makes it heave up and which not finding any outlet consequently eats into the underlying tissues and makes fissures and cavities. 40-46. Measures which contribute to a spontaneous bursting by medicinal applications (Da(rana) of a swelling should be adopted in the case of an infant or an old or enfeebled

Chap, i.] CHlklTSA StHANAM. 249